Want to make an island the focal point of your kitchen? With additional seating, extra worktops and innovative storage solutions, it’s no wonder the central standalone unit has become a must-have in most modern kitchens. Whether it’s to zone a large open-plan layout or add a space-saving feature to a snug culinary space, click or scroll through and check out these clever kitchen island ideas to transform the heart of your home.
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Plumb in a sink
Make washing up super social by installing a sink within your kitchen island. @ahousetomakeourhome has added a deep butler sink as part of her bottle-green kitchen island, positioned so it faces the open plan living area as well as a lovely garden.
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Pimp up with ply and paint
Give a budget IKEA island a full makeover using the bespoke cupboard doors and worktops of your dreams. Kitchen companies such as Plykea make it possible to customise the mainstream ‘bones’ of a kitchen turning it into a unique statement piece for a fraction of designer kitchen prices.
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Hang shelves above
If a kitchen already has plenty of light, use the space above the island for suspended shelving instead. The practical storage solution is what’s known as a ‘flyover shelf’ and can be useful for keeping fresh herbs, cooking utensils or glassware. The island worktop can then be kept clean and clear.
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Mix materials
Add interest to a larger kitchen island by opting for contrasting surfaces. Here, the breakfast bar, made from chunky solid wood, defines the dining area, while the worktop features hardworking stone to withstand food preparation. Marry the two materials together with island draws and seating in similar tones and materials.
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Tile it up
Kitchen tiles can make a decorative statement on walls and floors, so why not add them to the back of an island too? These vintage-star patterned tiles look incredible wrapped in a concrete worktop. Plush velvet orange bar stools inject a glamorous pop of colour.
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Slim it down
You don’t need an enormous space to accommodate an island. A kitchen-diner with a large table might benefit from a narrow sideboard or skinny fitted island to elongate the room. This simple and slim kitchen island doubles up as a stylish breakfast bar, while the thin base and overhanging counter free up floor space and allow the stools to tuck snugly underneath. Curated by Alison Anderson Design.com this one is easy to clean and withstands the rigours of family life without compromising on style.
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Set it out for socialising
As the heart of the home, a modern kitchen is a social space as much as a practical area for preparing food. This central island offers a prep area, cooking plates and a neat breakfast bar. The induction hob faces into the centre of the room, which is great for interacting with friends and family while you’re cooking.
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Focus on function
Turn your kitchen island into the focal point of a large kitchen by choosing a rich shade and framing it with feature floor tiles to complement your colour scheme. For the final touch, add task lighting by mounting three pendant shades above the workspace.
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Work in a wine cellar
Give your kitchen island an alternative purpose by adding a clever wine store under the counter. Set at one end, it’s a great use of space and will add a unique and interesting feature. Built with dark wood, these narrow shelves pop against the sky blue matte surround, while offering plenty of room for bottles.
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Bring in a bench
Here, an island and bench combine to make a practical and attractive seating area. It’s a useful space-saving solution for minimalist kitchens, especially if there is storage beneath the cushions. Dark wood panelling and charcoal grey cushions finish off the relaxed, yet smart feel.
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Get savvy with storage
Storage is often a top priority in the kitchen, so opting for an island that makes every inch of space count is a smart move. This innovative island includes cabinets, drawers and even bookshelves — the ideal space to store cookery books within easy reach.
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Curve the edges
Soft edges create a harmonious flow and make a nice change from the standard hard lines of kitchen cabinetry. The curved finish on this island softens the space, offering a soothing twist on modern — plus there are fewer sharp corners to be wary of if you have a young family or pets.
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Play with light effects
Make your kitchen island the focal point of your scheme with ambient lighting positioned around the base. This effect is created with built-in down-lights but LED strip lights added to plinths provide an additional layer of gentle lighting that’s perfect when you only want a soft atmospheric glow.
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Grow an indoor garden
Designers are always looking for ways to inject innovation into kitchens and this living herb garden set against an island is our favourite feature yet. It adds a pop of colour to this monochrome scheme, as well as keeping fresh herbs close to hand for cooking.
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Bridge the gap
Paired with a light concrete floor, this wood and marble island is the epitome of city living style in this open-plan kitchen-diner. The thin marble countertop keeps the room light and airy, as well as provides a clever way to squeeze in an eating space.
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Change the tone
Twist a traditional kitchen space by choosing bold two-tone cabinetry. Combine light grey units with a contrasting navy island for an on-trend kitchen scheme. The mix of light and dark paint is bold and dramatic, lifting the neutral scheme into something more daring.
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Wrap it in colour
Magnet kitchens predict that rich, dark and botanical green will be the go-to kitchen colour choice this summer. Arboretum Green is a lush shade that nods to British design heritage. Showcase the dramatic and organic tone than by wrapping a kitchen island in a natural toned material such as veined marble or quartz.
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Extra large
A huge kitchen island can add wow factor to open-plan areas. Not only will the useful counter anchor and zone a large room. The super-sized unit will add a multitude of storage, work surface and dining space. Interior designer Anne Haimes explains: “If you’ve got the room, why not make the most of your space with an extra large island? Larger islands can fill up an otherwise empty space and bring better balance to the kitchen.”
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Pop of colour
Colour is an important factor in any room of the house. To breathe life into an all-white kitchen, add a vibrant pop of colour across your island and lower units. These refreshing aqua-coloured units enhance the galley design and are highlighted by contrasting dark wood floor tiles.
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Downsize your design
Just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean you have to forgo an island altogether. Opt for a petite unit and avoid a cluttered look with a simple and streamlined scheme. This metal bar table has an integrated storage frame with lots of room for kitchen linens, utensils and containers.
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Get set for sustainable style
Give your kitchen a contemporary and continual statement by opting for a contrasting plywood kitchen island. The organic material is trending for a reason, its sleek aesthetics and superior raw quality offer sustainable simplicity that will last a lifetime. We love the contrasting colours of this Fenix Fes blue and natural birch ply kitchen.
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Make room for pets
This kitchen island is ideal for those who love their pets or pets who love to be around all the action. As well as storage and dining space there is a delightful under-counter cutout cubby space, complete with a matching plump cushion for your pooch to sit and eagerly await any crumbs that may fall their way.
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Put it on legs
Freestanding kitchen furniture such as this rustic kitchen island on legs will offer a more spacious vibe by making the room feel bigger than it is. Lifting the unit off the ground can give the room a streamlined, clean and tidy feel which is always welcome in the kitchen.
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Repurpose preloved furniture
A vintage table or chest of drawers makes an interesting alternative to standard kitchen islands. Mount a stone or quartz worktop for practical purposes and the piece is all set and bursting with character. This prep table has been made to look the part but a similar version can be easily achieved with old furniture as an upcycling idea.
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Get a professional look
Give your kitchen a restaurant-inspired look with a stainless steel kitchen island. Not only will it make you look like a competent cook but it will offer all the perks that come with a professional unit such as industrial-style storage, pristine cleanliness and shine.
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Reinstall
Want to give your kitchen a luxury look island without breaking the bank? On closer inspection, this large and pretty island looks brand new and part of an expensive kitchen. But, it’s actually an approved second-hand kitchen that has been re-installed. We’d be hard-pressed to tell it apart from a new version.
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Make use of every inch
A well-designed kitchen island should offer extra work surface space as well as practical under-counter storage that makes use of every nook and cranny. We love the stack of tiny drawers incorporated into the end of the dining space of this large central island. They are perfect for napkins and cutlery when dining or stationery supplies for catching up on admin. The brass cup handles look visually striking mounted onto the dark cabinet colourway, offering a traditional and timeless vibe.
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Double up
If you have the space why have one when you can have two kitchen islands? One can be used for cooking and preparation while the other for dining or doing the dishes. Dividing one long kitchen island into two separate units can offer more walking space around the kitchen and surfaces. Plus they add symmetrical aesthetics and balance to a large empty space.
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Call on concrete
Concrete worktops have been a big deal in kitchens for a while now, so why not take it one step further with a concrete island? Combined with plush pink seating and pretty lighting, this cool concrete kitchen island blurs the boundaries between industrial and luxury.
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Incorporate architecture
In an open-plan living area, a kitchen island is an ideal way to zone off areas, however, support columns can create obstacles, especially in period homes. Turn a hindrance into a highlight and incorporate it into your scheme for a characterful touch. Here, a coordinating warm wooden breakfast bar complements the support, balancing out the steel-blue cabinetry.
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Indulge in iridescence
Feeling bold? Opt for a gold island with iridescent metallic panels — the reflective surface maximises the available light, which is especially important in this dark and dramatic kitchen. Combined with black worktops and stylish pendant lighting, this scheme isn’t short of vintage glamour.
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Make it minimalist
Choose a table-style kitchen island for a clean, streamlined look. Clever under-counter cabinets mean storage is uncompromised, while the slim legs and neutral colour palette ensure the design is pared-back and minimalist.
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Dazzle with a DIY design
Crafted by DIY queen Kasie Barton, this quirky upcycled kitchen island has been created from old bricks, wooden crates and surplus tiles. Not only is this charming design a major talking point, but it’s also budget-friendly and good for the planet too.
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Play with lighting
When it comes to planning your kitchen lighting, allow your island to take centre stage by framing it with statement illumination. Architectural pendant lights are the perfect accompaniment, plus they offer practical task lighting too. Opt for a complementary hue — this eggshell blue lifts the rich dark navy of the cabinetry.
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Maintain the magic triangle
Integrate the magic triangle into your kitchen plan by installing the sink or hob within the kitchen island. A fail-safe way to create a practical layout, this design creates an easy-to-access rotation between the stove, sink and fridge. Incorporating the island into the triangle means it won’t obstruct the flow of your workspace.
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Branch out
Create the ultimate kitchen-dining island with a dedicated breakfast bar that juts out at a right angle from the main kitchen island. This innovative extension ensures there is plenty of space to socialise with family and friends while you cook.
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Add another level
Create a high-end look for less with this clever design idea. The island in this pale blue kitchen has been extended with the addition of a cool, contemporary kitchen table. The two furnishings are separate but look as though they are one luxurious kitchen island across different levels.
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Customise with country charm
Add to the warmth and character of a traditional farmhouse kitchen with a central island to match. Set against a stone-flagged floor, country-style wood panelling will look just the part. Pair with rustic wood stools and choose a durable work surface that will withstand all those warm pots of hearty home cooking.
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Accommodate the oven
Modern kitchens feature numerous appliances, so integrating some of them into the kitchen island is a sensible and stylish space-saving idea. As long as there is enough space around the gadgets and tools, you can run electrics to the island and install an extractor fan above for ventilation.
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Bring in brick
Add a touch of industrial-inspired texture with a brick-built kitchen island. This small but rustic design adds a tactile feel to this soft grey kitchen — to make it sustainable, you could even use reclaimed bricks. If bricks aren’t your thing, upcycled sleepers would add a similarly characterful look.
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Dare to go dark
If your cabinetry and walls are decked out in the same dark, rich hue, don’t be afraid to colour-match your island too. In this adventurous scheme, glints of brass across the fixtures and lighting balance out the deep blue-grey palette.
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Make it moveable
A useful kitchen island needn’t be static. A table or butcher’s block is easy to manoeuvre, as well as making a great budget-friendly option. Here, the compact unit is a helpful extension to the worktop, yet it can be easily relocated or pushed to the side if you need extra floor space.
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Find a new angle
Elevate a minimalist kitchen with a practical right-angled island design. The main unit contains the sink, while the lower section, which features a contrasting dark worktop, houses open shelves. Accessible from the outside, it’s the perfect spot to store crockery for the adjacent dining table.
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Add drama with geometric lines
For a real statement in your kitchen, don’t be afraid to experiment with architectural lines. Offering no end of wow-factor, this geometric island is striking and angular. Resembling an icy glacier, it’s framed by a constellation of pendant lights for the final dramatic flourish.
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Make it multipurpose
Featuring flashes of contrasting copper, this sleek and sophisticated kitchen island also serves a multitude of purposes. With its sink, wine fridge and dining area, form and function are beautifully blended.
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Create an illusion
If you’ve got the space and budget, why not do something a little out of the ordinary? In this top-of-the-range kitchen, the long island seemingly floats above the polished floor. Stabilised by a small base underneath, lighting further enhances the illusion and adds a designer flourish.
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Marry wood with monochrome
Breath life into a classic oak kitchen with sleek monochrome details. This sturdy chalk-white island sits in harmony with existing wood units thanks to the black granite worktops. Additional black bar stools and industrial-style pendant lights embrace the stylish, pared-back palette.
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Pimp it up with plush stools
If your island incorporates a breakfast bar, one way to inject personality is through your seating. Why not be experimental with colour and introduce a contrasting shade that makes a statement? These pretty pink velvet bar stools pop against the glorious green cabinetry. You can easily swap out the design when you feel like a change of scenery.
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Combine style and substance
A smart kitchen island with an integrated pop-up cooker hood is the perfect mix of sultry good looks and fabulous function. The black and walnut finishes make a confident design statement for a contemporary urban home.
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Stretch your prep space
A kitchen can never have enough workspace. Here, the traditional island has been extended with a freestanding butcher’s block to offer more preparation space. Durable and hardwearing, a butcher’s block will take plenty of wear before you need to replace it, plus it can be moved and reused elsewhere if needed.
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Double up on drawers
Is there such a thing as too many drawers? A great solution for your storage needs, this stylish IKEA kitchen features an island that reminds us of an apothecary with its plethora of drawers.
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Zone in style
Break down a large open-plan living space by zoning the kitchen area with a sleek and stylish island. This simple design features four large drawers within a glossy unit, with a breakfast bar and seating tucked under the extended work surface. We particularly love the contrasting raised black cupboards, which define the space and coordinate with the bar stools.
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Bring in a booth
Save on space by incorporating a banquette table into your kitchen island. Inset into the unit, which also contains the sink, the smart circular design offers a sociable seating option that’s perfect for even the snuggest of culinary spaces.
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